Water purification device

ABSTRACT

A water purification device for attachment to a hose or other water supply such that water flowing through the device comes in intimate contact with a treatment media including free available silver ions to provide a anti-bacteria and germicide treatment of the water flowing therethrough. Preferably, the device includes an inner chamber having opposed pairs of shells, and treatment media is disposed in at least one of such shells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a water purification system and moreparticularly to a device in which silver ions are used to kill and/orprevent the growth of germs and bacteria in pools or the like and moreparticularly to small pools such as wading pools or tubs that aregenerally filled on a per use basis. It is generally known to utilizesuch silver ions to clean and purify swimming pools and the like,reference being particularly made to the following U.S. patents: U.S.Pat. No. 4,504,387 issued Mar. 12, 1985 and entitled SYSTEM AND METHODFOR WATER PURIFICATION to George J. LeMire et al; U.S. Pat. No.4,608,247 issued Aug. 26, 1986 to Charles F. Heinig, Jr. and entitledCOMPOSITION FOR BACTERICIDAL TREATMENT OF WATER; and U.S. Pat. No.4,935,116 issued Jun. 19, 1990 to George J. LeMire and entitled WATERPURIFICATION DEVICE.

The continued popularity of small backyard-type pools and theintroduction of soaking or hot tubs has increased the need for theprovision of a germ free water supply. Presently, it is customary totreat swimming pools with chlorine to kill the bacteria and germspresent therein. There are, however, decided drawbacks to such systemssome of which are discussed in the above-mentioned patents. Accordingly,it has been found desirable to eliminate chlorine disinfection systemsand to utilize heavy metals and particularly heavy metals of the typecommonly referred to as oligodynamic metals for the bactericidaltreatment of water. A discussion of the use of such metals is also foundin the above-discussed patents. The above-mentioned patentspecifications are herewith specifically included in the subjectspecification by specific reference and incorporation thereinto.

Specifically, it would thus be desirable to provide a simple and yeteffective device to initially provide such backyard pools and tubs withwater which is already treated and thus germ and bacteria free prior tofilling such devices rather than afterwards. In other words instead ofrelying on more complex, expensive in-line equipment which treatsrecycled pool or tub water, the make up water is initially treated.Accordingly, these and other objects of the present invention areaccomplished with a device adapted for in-line connection to theterminal end of a water supply line which in turn contains a compositionadapted to supply free silver ions to the water flow as it enters thepool or tub device and which device supplies the appropriate desiredcontact between the composition medium and the water being treated.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a devicewhich is simple in construction yet portable, low cost and which can beeasily used and discarded by the homeowner and which requires no specialequipment for such use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplatedfor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a bottom plate configuration; and

FIG. 6 is a similar view of a screen therefore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1 thereof, the overallconfiguration and exterior appearance of the device 10 of the presentinvention as shown. Such device 10 includes an outer housing 12 havingan upstream inlet end 14 and a downstream exit end 16. The housing 12includes a first or upstream segment 18 and second or downstream segment20. Both such segments 18, 20 are preferably of somewhat elongated,open-ended configuration, that is, with a somewhat conical forwardconfiguration 22, 24 respectively and open at a rear or base peripheralcircular lip 26, 28 respectively. The lip 26 is further provided with acircular seat 30 for receipt of the lip 28 and further the body 22 isprovided with a connection means in the form of a circular flange 32provided with threads 34 such that a connector piece 36 inwardlyprovided with threads 37 can be utilized to join the two housingsegments 18 and 20 together and yet easily provide for their separationfor repeated use. In that regard, the area of the second housing segment20 is provided with a raised lip 38 for abutment with the terminalconnector portion or element 40 of the flange 32 and with a downwardlyextending ledge 42 provided on the rear portion of the connector element40 such that appropriate stop means is provided with a tight connectionbetween the segments 18 and 20 and the connection means 32 is achieved.

It will thus be apparent that the housing segments 18 and 20cooperatively form an interior chamber 50 closed except for an inlet 52including an opening at its upstream end 14 and an exit means 54including an opening at its downstream end 16. The inlet 52 ispreferably formed integrally with the rear portion of the segment 18 andcomprises a laterally extending circular boss 56 which is provided withthreads 58 on the inner surface thereof such that it can easily receivethe end of a water supply such as the threaded nozzle of a garden hoseand the like. Immediately adjacent the passageway 60 provided by suchboss 56 is a circular opening 62 providing communication with theinterior of the chamber 50 as will be hereinafter more fully explained.Water entering the opening 62 is thus free to pass through the chamberfor contact with treatment media M and thence outwardly into the tub orpool once so treated via the exit means 54. Such exit means 54 includesan elongated spout 64 hollow in construction and preferably providedwith a terminal end formed of a downwardly tapered spout 66. The outersurface of the spout 64 is preferably provided with a knurled surface 68as is the outer surface of the boss 56 positioned at the other end ofthe housing 12 for manipulation ease.

In order to provide a suitable means by which the water entering andexiting the treatment chamber can be brought into controlled contactwith the treatment medium, a pair of shells preferably of equal size andshape are provided for such purpose. Each such shell 70 has a somewhatupright elongated conical side wall 72 which terminates at the upper endin a reduced diameter opening 74 such that such opening 74 can be placedadjacent to the entrance opening 62 at one end of the chamber and theexit opening 65 at the opposite chamber end. The base or lower portion76 of the wall 72 terminates in an opening 78 at which point the wall 72is preferably provided with a small outwardly extending ledge 80 and adownwardly extending flange 82 so as to form a pocket or recess 84 forreceipt of a baffle or flow control device 86 which baffle 86 is in theform of a disc 88 having a plurality of patterned openings 90 includinga circular central opening 92. The baffle is, accordingly, adapted to beplaced into the recess, 84 such that the flow through the treatmentchamber can be regulated or controlled especially to create desirableturbulence in the water flow.

When a pair of such shells are placed base to base as depicted in theFIG. 3 drawing, the pattern of openings 90 can either be aligned witheach other, slightly misaligned or completely misaligned to enhance orreduce such turbulence. Additionally, the baffles 86 are laterallyspaced from each other such that a central chamber 94 is createdtherebetween. Such central chamber 94 contributes aeration and airbubbling trapped by the water being treated as it passes through thechamber 50. In addition, the diameter of the shells 70 is slightly lessthan the interior diameter of the treatment chamber 50 such that acircumferential space 100 is formed between the aligned shell pair andthe inside surface of the treatment chamber such that such space 100 mayprovide a air source to further aid in air bubbling and to insure propertolerance fit between the shells and the chamber. In that regard, itshould also be pointed out that an O ring seal is preferably provided atthe upper end of each shell 70 and adapted to circumferentially engageadjacent treatment chamber surfaces near the entrance and exit ends 14,16 respectively. In this way, treatment water moving into the deviceneed not enter the initial air space 100 either upon its entrance orupon its exit from the treatment chamber 50. Contributing to the shellspacing with respect to the interior treatment chamber surface, is thepreviously mentioned shoulders 80 and flange 82 of the shell walls 72.In this regard, the outer flange surface is adapted to contact the innersurface of the treatment chamber so as to not only space the shells inthe desired relationship with the treatment chamber but also topositively position them with respect to each other. Preferably a slightinward longitudinal pressure is brought to bear upon the shells and thusthe seals 102 when the connection means 40 is tightened to the desiredlevel.

Preferably in operation of the device, the shell 70 located in theupstream or first segment 18 of the housing is at least partially filedwith the aforementioned treatment medium M, for instance, that disclosedin the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,504,387 and 4,608,247 which aspreviously has been brought out the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated into the present specification by specific referencethereto. Such media M is loosely filled in the shell so that it can movearound and present different surfaces for contact with the water as itmoves therethrough. Thus some of the water moves centrally through themedium and other water portions move more laterally towards theconfining inside shell surfaces as depicted by the various arrows shownin FIG. 2.

Accordingly, some of the water passes directly through the first shellthrough the central openings 90 and enters the second shell whereas someof the water flow is re-diverted by reason of contact with the baffles;but in any event, intimate contact of a turbulent nature is broughtabout between the treatment medium and the water being treated. In thisregard and as previously pointed out, it should be indicated again thatthe shells may be rotationally moved with respect to each other suchthat the baffles are completely aligned or completely misaligned orsomewhat between with respect to each other so that the flow turbulencethrough the treatment chamber 50 can be enhanced, reduced or otherwisecontrolled. Also, both the upper and lower shell ends are preferablyprovided with a smaller screen disc 104 at the upper end and a largerdisc at the bottom end to assure small media particles are retainedtherein. Generally, it has been found most effective to only charge theupstream shell 70 with treatment media M and then about two thirds fullsuch that the ion contact and pickup takes place by the water initiallyin the upstream half of the chamber 50 and then is swirled about andsubject to turbulence in the next half and in the intermediate centralchamber 94.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying this invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in theart that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlyinginventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particularforms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purification device for in lineconnection to the terminal end of a water supply line having a waterflow therein comprising an outer housing formed by a first upstreamhollow housing segment and a second downstream hollow housing segment,said housing segments each having an open base portion with said baseportions disposed in abutting relation with each other and connectionmeans for releasably retaining said base portions together, said housingfurther having opposed ends including an upstream end in turn havinginlet means for receiving said water flow, an interior chamber formed byconnection of said housing segments for treating said water flow and anoutlet end for directing the treated water flow where desired, saidinterior chamber being further divided into subchambers including afirst upstream subchamber and a second downstream subchamber by means ofreplaceable shell means disposed in said chamber, said replaceable shellmeans having opposed upstream and downstream ends in turn disposed inwater sealing relationship with said interior chamber such that waterprogressively passes through said upstream and downstream subchambersand then exits said device and at least said upstream subchamber beingpartially filled with a treatment medium in turn having available silverions therein for contact with and treatment of said water flow, saidreplaceable shell means comprising a pair of hollow shells each havingopposed open ends including a large diameter base and a small diametertop, said shells disposed in base to base longitudinal position in saidchamber, said shells forming said subchambers with the upstream disposedshell containing said treatment medium, said shell means having acircular compressible sealing means at each of said opposed upstream anddownstream ends thereof wherein each said sealing means contactsinterior portions of said respective hollow housing segments.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein said shell means is further interiorly spacedfrom the interior wall of said chamber by means of a circumferential airspace.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said shell bases are centrallylongitudinally spaced from each other so as to form an intermediatecentrally disposed air/water mixing compartment between said shells. 4.The device of claim 3, wherein at least said upstream shell includesscreens disposed at both the ends thereof to retain said treatment mediatherein but simultaneously permit water flow therethrough.
 5. The deviceof claim 3, wherein said device further includes means for regulatingthe flow of water through said shells, said regulating means includingsaid shell bases each having a closure wall in turn having a pattern ofopenings disposed therein, and said shells partially rotatable withrespect to each other such that said openings can be aligned, misalignedor partially aligned.